CHECK OUT THE LATEST STOCKING REPORT

The weekly stocking report is posted each Friday, so it can include the latest stocking details right up to the weekend.

The 2025-26 license year is underway!

License sales for the 2025-26 license year have begun. Licenses from the 2024-2025 license year are no longer valid. The 2025-26 Fishing Rules and Information Booklet (RIB) is available online in both English and Spanish, and will soon be available in print at Department offices and vendors statewide.

Check the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner!

The Department's Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner was created using data from past Weekly Fishing Reports to develop graphs depicting fishing conditions for several species and waterbodies throughout the year. Each graph represents the average fishing conditions for each week of the year over the four-year period. 

The Department has also developed an interactive Fishing Waters Map with a wealth of information on fishing locations in New Mexico. It displays hundreds of fishing access points with information of fish species available, facilities, accessibility, boat ramps and general regulations.

Check out the webpage to plan your trip now!

Land Management Agency Links

The Department reminds anglers to “know before you go” and to contact land management agencies regarding additional regulations or restrictions on specific properties of interest prior to heading afield.

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
• New Mexico State Lands
• New Mexico State Parks 
• New Mexico Open Gate Properties 
• New Mexico Wildlife Management Areas
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Consult local government websites for information regarding specific city and town fishing access. 

SOUTHWEST CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Elephant Butte Lake: Joe Fisher (top left) caught and released a striped bass using a curly-tail grub on May 4. Anthony Dupree (top right) caught eight white bass, with the largest being 12.5 pounds, using curly-tail grubs on May 3. Max I. Garcia (above left) caught three smallmouth bass using crankbaits and spoons on May 3. Isaac Mossburg (above right) caught two smallmouth bass using a crankbait in the Rock Canyon area on May 3. Erika Ecsedy, her boyfriend and her niece (not pictured) caught 10 catfish, three drum and one walleye using shiners and worms on April 20.

 Gila River: Brian Culligan (not pictured) caught two trout using a fly on April 29.

Quemado Lake: Kaia Rivera, from Laguna Pueblo, caught five trout using Salmon Peach PowerBait on April 27 after a great weekend of turkey hunting. 

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Alumni Pond: Closed for repairs until further notice.

Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Bill Evans Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Caballo Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing for white bass and striped bass was very good when using curly-tail grubs. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair to good when using crankbaits and spoons.

Escondida Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Gila River: Streamflow near Gila Wednesday morning was 43.3 cfs. Fishing for trout was slow when using flies.

Gila Waters: Streamflow near Gila Hot Springs Wednesday morning was 42 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Roberts: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Quemado Lake: Fishing for trout was fair to good when using Salmon Peach PowerBait.

Rancho Grande Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Grande: Streamflow below Elephant Butte Dam on Wednesday morning was 464 cfs.

Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. The area, including the boat launch and the trailhead, has been temporarily closed because of the Iron Fire.

Trees Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.

Young Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.